Posted Oct. 3, 2015 at 12:24 AM
Article source: http://www.pekintimes.com/article/20151003/NEWS/151009823
Pahiatua’s famous plane has been taken down from its spot in the town’s playground.
Pahiatua’s iconic Harvard aeroplane has lifted-off from the playground it has soared over since the 1960s.
The aluminium aeroplane, first placed in the centre of the Tararua township in 1963, was removed over the weekend and will be replaced with an aluminium replica.
Tararua District Council chief executive Blair King said over time, wind and vibrations had caused fatigue cracks on the wings of the plane.
Pahiatua’s iconic Harvard airplane was removed in the weekend.
Replacing it with a replica was a more cost-effective, and safer option than repairing the original Harvard aircraft.
“Some of the more adventurous children had figured out how to climb up from the slide to the top of the plane,” he said.
Project manager John Arends said exposure to the weather had caused parts of the wings to rust.
“Basically, the structure was totally corroded. It was getting to the point where it was unsafe.”
The aluminium plane was patched up 25 years ago, but this time it was decided replacing it was the best thing to do, he said.
The new structure has steel framework but uses fibreglass rather than aluminium.
The plane’s slide and ladder had already been altered to meet safety requirements around children, he said.
“Hopefully, it’s designed that they won’t climb on to the wings,” he said.
The Pahiatua playground has undergone a four-year revamp. The plane’s replacement is the last stage of the project.
The plane was iconic and part of the
Article source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/72724262/pahiatua-plane-replaced-with-fibreglass-model
